Why does critical thinking matter?

In most cases, your audience wants to learn MORE than what you think about your subject.  They want to learn how you arrived at your ideas.  In short, they expect your paper to inform them about the thinking process by which you arrived at your conclusions.

People generally "think critically," that is to say they reason their way to a conclusion.  Good writers know that this thinking process is a central part of a writing task.  This is true whether supporting evidence comes from outside sources (as in a research paper) or from the writer's own judgment (as in a more personal response essay).

When does critical thinking happen?

All the time!  However, most of your thinking should occur at the earlier stages of the writing process:

• when you are expanding your knowledge of the topic (reading/researching/thinking)
• when you are generating a trial thesis
• when you are organizing your ideas

As you write your draft, you can continue to think critically about the subject and change your approach accordingly.

A third important stage of critical thinking comes when you critique a first draft.

How can I improve my critical thinking?

Critical thinking involves inquiry, having a questioning mind.  Good critical thinkers ask themselves lots of different types of questions about their subject.  Here are some strategic questions you can use as models.  Note:  not every question will be applicable to all writing assignments.

definition: What does [key term] mean?

analysis: What are some significant features or component parts of   [key term]?

variety: What are the types of [key term]?

use: What is the essential function of [key term]?

cause and effect: What are the causes of [key term]?  What are the consequences?

condition:  What is the present status of [key term]?

reputation: What is the significance of [key term]?

origin: How did [key term] happen?

significance: What is the value of [key term]?

pro arguments: What case can be made in support of [key term]?

anti arguments: What case can be made against [key term]